Chapter 27 Chapter 27 [VIP]
Xi Rongjing is one of the few people who knows about this old story.
Yuan Mu only heard the name "Helan Zhen" from his mouth.
The spring breeze is soft and the sunshine is warm.
The light pink petals floated in the wind and fell onto Yuan Mu's shoulders, and the fragrance of the flowers made people intoxicated.
When she first entered the palace, she eagerly told the emperor about this.
The matter was so absurd and there was no evidence to support it, so he didn't believe a single word of it.
At the beginning, the emperor could still patiently talk to Yuan Muyan, but later his trust in her was completely gone, and he couldn't even bear to hear the name Helan Zhen.
"Brother-in-law" and "Helan Zhen" have become the biggest taboos in Ziwei Palace.
The emperor used a very cruel method to make Yuan Mu never dare to mention Helan Zhen again.
It was a memory that made her feel cold all over whenever she thought of it.
No one believed Yuan Mu.
The imperial physician tactfully said that she might have suffered from hysteria due to excessive stimulation.
People who have experienced war are easily frightened by the serious battles.
This is a common problem. Military generals are often frightened and anxious after a battle, let alone her, a girl of only fifteen years old.
At certain moments, Yuan Mu herself even doubted whether she was really crazy to think that she would have had an affair with such a respected person as the emperor?
But Xi Rongjing never said a harsh word to her.
He always seems to have that gentle and elegant face.
Xi Rongjing has a very good temper. When Yuan Mu looks at him, the first thing that comes to his mind is often not his dignified posture in red clothes, but his smiling face when he was feeding fish in Qingyun Temple in his early years.
She lowered her head, nodded, and then shook her head.
There was an intense struggle in Yuan Mu's eyes.
"It's not that I can't forget him," her eyes flickered, "I am, I am..."
But Yuan Mu couldn't tell what it was.
She suddenly realized that it had been almost three years since that unforgettable event in her youth.
Yuan Mu's hand instinctively touched the thin bracelet on his wrist.
Her long eyelashes trembled, and the light shadow under her eyelids also shook.
Yuan Mu's red lips were slightly swollen. She was almost kissed to death by the emperor. Just now in the palace, he kissed every inch of her snow-white skin.
Gently pick and kiss, bite and curl the lips.
Ordinary people may not be able to see it, but people who have seen the world can understand what happened just from the expression on Yuan Mu Sheng’s eyebrows.
What's more, she was wearing a pink dress when she was on the imperial carriage, and less than an hour later, she changed into a new snow-blue dress.
Xi Rongjing looked at Yuan Mu calmly.
She bit her lips lightly with her pearly teeth and shook her head slightly.
Just as Yuan Mu was about to speak, the emperor's voice suddenly rang out: "What are you talking about?"
He stood behind her, his hand gently resting on her shoulder.
The scent of the emperor's incense came close to him, making Yuan Mu sad for a moment, but after the shock, a strong fear began to surge.
Her face turned pale in an instant as she lost blood.
The emperor was extremely tall, which naturally gave people a strong sense of oppression, let alone looking down from such a high position.
Yuan Mu turned his head to look at him, and his back was soaked in an instant.
Cold sweat also covered her forehead and the back of her neck.
Yuan Mu responded almost subconsciously: "Nothing."
Fear and terror are instinctive, and no matter how gentle the emperor appears, her fear of him cannot be eliminated.
Yuan Mu was trembling with fear, and his eyes were constantly shaking.
She is not good at lying and her disguises are always full of loopholes.
But the emperor just said softly: "Really? I thought you were talking about something else."
After saying this, he sat down directly.
Yuan Mu's waist was held by the emperor's big hand, and her body leaned unconsciously into his arms.
He rubbed her lower abdomen, the skin there was so soft and tender that it couldn't stand being touched.
Yuan Mu bit his lip to avoid losing his composure. His eyes were misty and hazy, and his voice trembled: "Your Majesty..."
The emperor kissed the corner of her eye and said in a chastising tone, "You didn't even eat properly while I was away."
Yuan Mu's face flushed, but he didn't dare to disobey the emperor in front of others. He lowered his eyes helplessly and said in a weak voice: "I will eat well."
She is as good as a bee.
The two of them were used to being close to each other, and no matter when or where, they were always intimate with each other in a way that no one else could interfere with.
Xi Rongjing smiled and said softly, "Without His Majesty, Empress Zhaoyi will certainly not be able to eat well."
There was a hint of mischief in his eyes, but more of it was friendly teasing.
The emperor laughed and scolded: "You should first settle your own lifelong affairs."
After a while, King Chu and Xi Lanyan also came back.
Xi Lanyan wore a garland on her head and waved a willow branch in her hand, looking happy.
The King of Chu walked towards this side with his long legs casually. He was dressed in a black suit, which was a rare solemn attire for him. However, he also had a few garlands in his hands.
The two were not much different in age, and when they walked side by side,
The emperor narrowed his eyes and said softly:
Yuan Mu raised his eyes when he heard his words.
Seeing a smile on Xi Lanyan's face, her expression also softened a lot.
Although not, Yuan Mu still hopes that she can be happy.
Xi Rongjing picked up the cup and took a sip of tea. Who should I ask? These days, when I see Ah Yan,
There have been a lot of things going on recently. When the emperor is busy, the ministers around him will only be busier.
The two of them came over quickly.
The emperor hugged Yuan Mu's slender waist and said with a smile: "Where did you get the wreath?"
"Of course Brother Zhang picked it for me!" Xi Lanyan said happily, "Do you think it looks good?"
She turned around in front of everyone.
The skirt with gold edges fluttered like a dancing butterfly.
Xi Lanyan's long hair was also fluttering, and the garland was slightly raised. She was as beautiful as a fairy who had fallen into the mortal world.
The emperor said calmly, "Not bad."
Xi Lanyan could only be praised, and when she saw the emperor's indifferent reaction, her face immediately fell.
"It's obviously very beautiful." She said proudly.
It doesn't seem strange at all for a young girl to say such things, but it makes people want to pamper her more.
Yuan Mu's eyes were gentle, and he said softly, "It's very beautiful, Ayan."
Xi Lanyan was happy at this. She twisted her body, raised her eyebrows and said, "Sister is still the best judge."
The emperor just smiled without saying anything. He pinched Yuan Mu's ear and whispered in her ear, "How can you be so good at coaxing people? When will you coax me like this?"
Yuan Mu's ears were burning hot and his face flushed.
The tension just now subsided, replaced by an intense shyness.
Yuan Mu was too thin-skinned, and her snow-white neck would turn red with shame if he teased her a little.
She was still not used to being close to others. There was a gleam in her watery eyes, but she didn't know how to refuse the emperor. He also held her slender waist in his palm and played with it for a long time.
It was not until after lunch and when he returned to the palace to rest that Yuan Mu finally dared to hum.
The emperor's voice was hoarse: "No one saw it."
He pressed Yuan Mu's lower back, the ring on his finger pressed against the snow-white skin. His words were still tender, but there was a dark and obscure look in his eyes.
The darkness was so thick that it seemed bottomless, like an abyss that would swallow people up.
Yuan Mu's sobs broke, and he cried, "Take it away, take it away..."
She doesn't like rings very much.
The emperor vaguely knew that Yuan Mu was afraid of many things. She was not very courageous, but at certain moments she was so bold that it was frightening.
He wanted to be gentle, but the image before him became more morbid.
"A Luo, you can't betray me," the emperor leaned over and kissed Yuan Mu's butterfly bone, "This is the bottom line, understand?"
She didn't know how the topic suddenly came here.
But cold sweat soon broke out on Yuan Mu's thin back.
The gold-plated silver seal that kept flashing through her mind was a mark that, if branded on her lower back, would leave an indelible mark until her death.
Yuan Mu was almost certain that the emperor had just heard Xi Rongjing's question, but he probably did not hear her words.
She is too sensitive to danger.
Yuan Mu knew that he couldn't light a fire at this time.
But the instinct developed over the years made her body involuntarily cling to the emperor.
Yuan Mu put her arms around the emperor's neck and sat on his lap, tears streaming down her face.
She cried and said, "What if you don't want me anymore?"
This is too false a pretense.
But the darkness in the emperor's eyes faded a lot. He hugged Yuan Mu's waist and said in a low voice: "How could I not want you?"
"Even if it's in the mausoleum," he said softly, "I have to be buried with you."
Concubines did not have the right to be buried with the emperor.
This is a privilege exclusive to the Queen.
If Yuan Mu was more sensitive, she would definitely be able to understand the meaning of the emperor's words, but she was just trying to please him with strong fear.
So she didn't hear anything.
The emperor kissed away the tears from Yuan Mu's eyes and said softly, "Lie down, let me kiss you again."
He has been very gentle to her recently, and his actions have become more and more unscrupulous.
Yuan Mu was actually a little resistant. She loved cleanliness, like a kitten, but how could she refuse what the emperor wanted to do?
We were supposed to go horseback riding in the afternoon, but we wasted time in the inner hall.
When dusk fell, the emperor brought Yuan Mu out.
The carriage was waiting, and once again she went back without having any fun.
When the emperor saw Yuan Mu’s drooping little face, his heart almost melted into a pool of water. He just wanted to hold her in his arms and kiss her like he held a kitten.
But people can't be bullied too much.
The four of them sat together in the carriage on the return journey.
The imperial carriage was as steady as if it were walking on flat ground, and there were cards on the small table.
Yuan Mu was not good at playing cards, so the emperor held her hand and taught her how to play.
They all have superb skills, it's just a matter of who gives the other more.
Normally, men would give Xi Lanyan some leeway, but the emperor didn't give her any face at all. He took Yuan Mu and killed all three of them.
Xi Lanyan was full of confidence at first, but later she was so angry that she wanted to leave.
Yuan Mu had never won so hard before. Her head was dizzy and her face was red.
The emperor raised the corner of his lip and said nonchalantly, "How can we not afford to lose?"
Xi Lanyan was provoked by him and lost several games in a row. By the time she got off the carriage, she was almost fainted from anger.
Yuan Mu felt that this was not a good thing. Her happiness was built on the pain of others, but it was difficult for her to control her mood. She still smiled when she said goodbye to Xi Lanyan.
They both got off the carriage midway, and when they were almost at the Ziwei Palace, they were the only two left on the imperial carriage.
The emperor arched his brows and asked softly, "Are you happy today?"
Yuan Mu's black hair was blown by the night wind, her eyes sparkling as if filled with stars. She nodded: "Happy."
It's just that the happiness is so overwhelming that it overflows with a strange sadness.
Yuan Mu didn't dare to be too happy, but when she looked at the emperor at this moment, she couldn't help feeling happy.
It would be nice if it could be like this every day.
When the emperor carried Yuan Mu down from the carriage, he looked up at the brilliant Milky Way and made a wish in his heart.
For some inexplicable reason, she had a rare vision of the future.
But the unexpected came even faster.
Because she did not glimpse the light of the sky, but only saw a little bit of starlight in the long darkness.
-
The second day of February is the Flower Festival.
The imperial palace holds a banquet every year to celebrate the welcoming of the goddess of flowers. It is called a festival, but its real purpose is to gather the nobles and their children together for marriage proposals.
The banquet was held in Nangong.
The people living here are all concubines of the previous dynasty. There are many vacant palaces and they have a lot of free time. Every year they help organize the palace banquet for the Flower Festival.
Yuan Mu got up early in the morning. She had played all day yesterday, but she didn't feel tired at all.
Because Aunt Yu and my sister will be coming over today.
The emperor had nothing to do in the morning, so he had breakfast with Yuan Mu.
He was not particular about food, clothing, housing and daily necessities. In the past, his expenses came from Qingning Palace, and now all his meals in the morning and evening come from Yuanmu.
But Yuan Mu ate very slowly and it always took him a long time to get seated.
After washing up, she went to see the kitten first, fed it, and played with it for a while before slowly coming over.
The emperor leaned against the door, just looking at her silently.
Yuan Mu's scalp tingled when he stared at her. She had no choice but to separate from the kitten and have breakfast with him.
After breakfast, it wasn’t too late.
The emperor said softly, "Shall I take you to Nangong?"
When he said this, he really looked like a father sending his children on a spring outing to school.
Yuan Mu waved her hands quickly and whispered, "We have to go to Yifeng Palace first."
The emperor's expression changed slightly for a moment, his brows furrowed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure and said softly, "Okay, have the palace staff prepare the sedan chair."
When Yuan Mu was about to leave, she wanted to wear the plain coat, but the emperor held her hand and took out a thin lotus pink skirt.
She would only wear bright clothes when she went out to play or in front of the emperor.
"Your aunt and sister are coming today," the emperor said in a gentle voice, "dress nicely."
The light lotus pink color is the same color as the newly blooming peach blossoms.
Dyed with madder, it is delicate and soft, making Yuan Mu's snow-white skin look even whiter, and it seems to be filled with light in the dark.
She said softly, "Okay."
The two left the palace together, the emperor went to the front court and Yuan Mu went to Yifeng Palace.
It has been very warm these past few days, and the spring breeze is gentle, rustling the willow branches.
The grass is tender green, the new flowers are pale pink, and there is an abundance of vitality everywhere.
Yuan Mu was in a good mood when she arrived at Yifeng Palace. She was considered young among the concubines, and was seven years younger than the emperor.
That cool and elegant face is a beauty rarely seen in the world.
It is only because of his low status, his few words, and his tendency to keep a low profile that people don't pay much attention to him.
But when Yuan Mu appeared in bright clothes, it was hard for anyone to ignore her presence.
What’s more, something like that happened in the back garden of Yifeng Palace not long ago.
When the emperor came to look for Yuan Mu that day, he did not hide it. Although he was surrounded by many guards, many people still saw the shocking scene of him picking up Yuan Mu.
A long time ago, when Yuan Mu had just entered the palace, many people hoped that she would share the favor of Queen Yuan.
But when this scene actually happened, what surged in everyone's hearts was not joy.
It is said that the emperor dotes on Empress Yuan, but have they ever been close to each other in public?
There were several times when she was seriously ill, but the emperor never went to the harem, but only sent eunuchs there.
It is common knowledge that the emperor is cold and apathetic.
However, on that day, he picked up Yuan Mu in front of everyone.
The concubines who saw the scene were so shocked that their jaws almost dropped to the ground. The harem had been silent for too long, like a dead and glorious tomb.
When something like this happened suddenly, the news spread like wildfire.
This was the first time Yuan Mu appeared in front of everyone after that day.
In fact, many people submitted invitations to Qingning Palace that night.
But the palace maids rejected them all, and she didn't even get to see Yuan Mu. Even the four concubines were treated the same way.
Empress Yuan's prestige plummeted overnight, but the emperor did not even offer the slightest protection.
Ehuang and Nvying, Feiyan and Hede.
This old story is really going to happen again.
I just don't know whether the emperor has relaxed his mind and is willing to visit the harem more often, or whether he is deliberately favoring Yuan Mu and giving her the same unparalleled favor as the queen.
The difference between the two is as great as heaven and earth.
How many people have wet their pillows with tears, how many people have trouble sleeping all night, how many people have gritted their teeth.
Outsiders don’t know.
The shock in the harem will inevitably involve the previous dynasty, but Yuan Mu has been staying by the emperor's side these days and she knows nothing.
When those strange looks were cast at her, she vaguely realized that others might know something.
Is it because of what happened in the back garden that day?
Yuan Mu walked into Yifeng Palace holding up her skirt, her ignorant eyes revealing an indescribable innocence.
That beautiful face with a cold feeling could not hide her inherent immaturity.
Yuan Mu was only fifteen years old when he entered the palace, and he was very childish.
Now she is graceful, with affectionate eyes, fair skin and red lips, and looks like a young favorite concubine.
When did she become like this?
The emperor's favor could not have been formed overnight, and he was such a cold and indifferent person that it would take months of doting and intimacy to completely change someone's attitude.
Many people spontaneously recalled the incident that happened years ago.
Concubines of high rank like Defei and Xianfei ended up in such an embarrassing situation just because they said a few words to Yuan Mu.
Many people think that the emperor showed more love and favor to his wife's younger sister because of Empress Yuan.
But now I think about it, maybe that’s not entirely true.
Yuan Mu stood in the center of Yifeng Palace, feeling the gazes of the crowd, some burning and some hidden, and felt a very uncomfortable and strange feeling.
She was used to being a shadow hiding in the dark, and being suddenly put in the sunlight made her feel quite uncomfortable all over.
Fortunately, Queen Yuan appeared in time.
There was no expression on her face, and she pulled Yuan Mu to her side as usual.
After a few brief words, everyone prepared to set off for Nangong.
Yuan Mu leaned in the sedan chair. A butterfly flew to her side. She stretched out her fingers and let the butterfly land on her fingertips.
It was not until the sedan chair stopped at Nangong that the little butterflies gradually flew away.
Yuan Mu got down from the sedan chair. She was good-looking and had an outstanding demeanor.
She came from an obscure background, which was known to some people in the palace, but looking at her demeanor now, no one would have thought that she was a noble lady raised by a concubine in the farm.
If people of the same level suddenly rise, it will not bring too much shock to others.
When someone you once looked down upon suddenly reaches a high position, it becomes difficult to control your distorted emotions.
But no one dared to do anything.
Because the one who protected Yuan Mu was the emperor, the Son of Heaven who could not tolerate even the slightest bit of sand in his eyes.
Nangong is very lively today. Singing and dancing have already begun, and the sounds of stringed instruments and music can be heard from afar.
The palace gardens are filled with fragrance, and all kinds of flowers are in full bloom, as if they have gathered into a sea of colorful flowers.
There were also a lot of people coming.
Apart from the nobles and the women in their families, young scholars and clan members accounted for the majority.
The lonely Nangong welcomed the annual grand event.
Yuan Mu saw the King of Chu surrounded by the Queen Mother and old ministers almost at a glance.
He was wearing a new goose yellow suit, and he looked more like a handsome young lady than a gentleman.
The King of Chu smiled at her helplessly.
Yuan Mu also smiled at him, but she couldn't save him because the next moment she looked away, she saw Yuan Wei.
He was very handsome when he was young, and he still stands out in the crowd today.
But Yuan Mu's heartstrings suddenly tightened.
Standing next to Yuan Wei were Aunt Yu and Yuan Yin, but she didn't dare to approach them immediately.
Aunt Yu was dressed in gorgeous clothes, and Yuan Yin was also dressed beautifully.
If it weren't for the age difference, some people might have mistaken Yu Yi Niang for Yuan Wei's wife, Madam Cui.
But there's no use trying to hide.
After Yuan Wei noticed Yuan Mu's gaze, he stopped chatting and laughing with the people around him. He looked at her sideways, whispered a few words to the people around him, and walked towards Yuan Mu.
Her brows knitted together as she called out in a cold voice, "Father."
Yuan Wei smiled and said sarcastically, "You're still willing to call me father?"
Aunt Yu was beside him, her face full of smiles, and she responded tenderly: "You are right. A Luo stays in the palace every day, and the person he looks forward to seeing most is you."
"What do you know?" Yuan Wei said with a smile, "Our A'Luo is now in great favor. Things are different now than before."
There was mockery in his eyes and every word he spoke was stinging.
When Yuan Mu saw the good mood of his aunt and sister, all his anger disappeared completely.
Yuan Wei was tired of her, and she was also tired of Yuan Wei.
She whispered, "If you're not happy to see me, Lord Yuan Ling can go away."
Ever since the last incident with Zhang Qin, the little remaining father-daughter affection between them has completely disappeared.
It is rare in the world for blood relatives to suffer such hatred.
Yuan Wei's expression suddenly turned cold.
There was a gloom in his eyes, and Yuan Mu was sure that if it wasn't in front of others, he would have slapped him.
Beneath Yuan Wei's handsome appearance lies an extremely violent and heartless heart.
The term "beast in human clothing" fits him best.
But Yuan Mu had no interest in talking to Yuan Wei anymore. She took her sister's hand and said softly, "Auntie, let's go over there and rest for a while."
Officials and their wives often had to prepare early before entering the palace, and they would come without even having their meals.
Yuan Mu wanted to take the two of them with him, but Yuan Wei said coldly to Wei Cong, "Take Madam Ru and Miss down first."
This is a guard in the palace, how can he give orders so easily?
Yuan Mu couldn't help but be shocked, but Wei Cong really listened to Yuan Wei's orders.
After they left, they were the only two left under the tall flower tree.
Yuan Mu frowned tightly and whispered, "What do you want to do?"
Every time she saw Yuan Wei, nothing good ever happened, so she instinctively became defensive.
Yuan Wei didn't say much this time. He said straight to the point, "Let your sister enter the palace."
Just a few simple words, but they were like thunder from out of nowhere.
Yuan Mu opened his eyes wide and asked in disbelief: "What did you say?"
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